Tudors - Elizabeth of York

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Name: Elizabeth of York
Father: Edward IV
Mother: Elizabeth Woodville
Born: February 11, 1466 at Westminster Palace
Married: Henry VII, on January 18 1486
Children: Arthur, Margaret, Henry, Elizabeth, Mary, Edmund, Katherine
Died: February 11, 1503 at Richmond Palace, aged 36 years, 11 months, and 29 days
Buried at: Westminster Abbey

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Elizabeth of York, was the eldest child of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, and was born at Westminster. The first marriage that was arranged for her was with George Neville, but, when the Neville family deserted Edward's cause, this was broken off and, in 1475, she was promised to the Dauphin of France but the marriage did not take place as Charles' father, Louis XI, decided against it.

Elizabeth’s father Edward IV died in 1483, and her younger brother, Edward V, became King. Her uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III), was appointed regent. Richard began scheming to take the throne and had Edward IV's marriage declared bigamous making the children of the marriage, including young Elizabeth, ineligible for the succession. Edward V and his brother were imprisoned in the Tower of London and shortly afterwards disappeared presumed murdered by their uncle who then became king Richard III.

Elizabeth’s mother determined to remove Richard and made an alliance with Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry Tudor (later Henry VII). They agreed that Henry should move to claim the throne, and that once he had taken it, he would marry Elizabeth. Henry swore an oath to this effect in Rennes in December 1483, and began planning an invasion. On 22 August 1485, Henry Tudor and Richard III fought at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Richard, was killed in battle and Henry took the crown as Henry VII.

Henry was crowned on 30 October 1485 but did not marry Elizabeth until 18 January 1486. Their first son, Arthur, was born on 20 September 1486; Henry had Elizabeth crowned Queen consort a year later, on 25 November 1487. The marriage was a happy one and Elizabeth bore Henry seven children, four of whom lived to adulthood. She died 1503, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

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